Football

CUA welcomes Shenandoah for Family Weekend contest on Friday night

Oct 11, 2012

WASHINGTON - CUA returns home on Friday evening to welcome Shenandoah on Family Weekend. The Cardinals suffered their first ODAC loss of the season last week, falling at Randolph-Macon by a score of 45-12. CUA was without quarterback Greg Cordivari, who missed the game due to injury, but the Cardinals still hung tough, trailing by only 12 late in the 3rd, before the Yellow Jackets broke things open.

The Hornets meanwhile enter this weekend looking to snap a four-game losing streak, which includes a 20-7 loss to Guilford last weekend.

The Cardinals and Hornets get together for the ninth time on Friday, with CUA holding a 5-3 advantage. The Cardinals have won four of the last five meetings, including a last-second 16-13 victory in the 2010 season opener in Virginia.

CUA returns home this weekend where the Cardinals are 2-1 this season. CUA is averaging 37.7 points, 247.7 yards passing and 370.7 total yards at home, compared to just 14.5 points, 155.5 passing yards and 309 total yards in two road games (0-2).

CUA leads the ODAC in forcing turnovers, with four interceptions and a league-leading seven fumble recoveries. Mark D'Annibale tops the conference with three fumble recoveries, while Patrick Nilsen is second with two.

The CUA defense has been terrific all season at getting to the opposition behind the line of scrimmage. In five games, the Cardinals have totaled 31 tackles for loss, good for an average of 6.2 per game. Vinny Cortese (5.5), Ryan Klein (5.0) and Joe Tretter (5.0) lead the way for a unit that has totaled at least 5.0 TFL in every game.

CUA leads the ODAC in red zone efficiency, converting 84.2% of its chances (16-19). The Cardinals have scored 14 touchdowns and two field goals inside the opponents' 20-yard line this season.

The Cardinal defense has done a great job of getting off the field on 3rd down. CUA has held teams to a 37% success rate on 3rd down this season, including an 0-for-8 showing by Carnegie Mellon.

The Cardinals surrendered their first sack of the entire season last week, but CUA has still only allowed four in five games. That ranks the Cardinals 23rd in America and second in the ODAC.